On this illustration, NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover makes use of its drill to core a rock pattern on Mars. Credit score: NASA/JPL-Caltech
One of many prime goals of the NASA 2020 Perseverance mission is to gather a various cache of rock samples for eventual return to Earth. Among the many highest precedence rocks to pattern are those who make up the well-preserved delta positioned on the western aspect of Jezero Crater. This delta was one of many key options that drew researchers to this touchdown website of their seek for historic Martian life. An in depth examination of deltaic rocks is crucial for understanding their depositional setting and figuring out whether or not this paleoenvironment might have been liveable.
Jezero Crater’s Delta Is Getting Nearer: The expanse of Jezero Crater’s river delta is proven on this panorama of 64 stitched-together photographs taken by the Mastcam-Z system on NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover on April 11, 2022, the 406th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Credit score: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
Since touchdown in Jezero crater final yr, the rover has been investigating and drilling crater flooring rocks so as to add to the pattern cache. However the rover hadn’t but had entry to the coveted deltaic rocks—till now, that's. After conducting a “speedy traverse” towards the delta, Perseverance lastly arrived on the delta entrance.
Final week the rover parked at a website referred to as Enchanted Lake (see picture under), the place the group was hopeful we'd pattern deltaic rocks for the very first time. Nevertheless, as a result of the rover can solely accumulate a restricted variety of samples, the group should fastidiously weigh all choices, maintaining in thoughts what has already been sampled in addition to making an attempt to foretell what we might encounter alongside the remainder of the traverse. Despite the fact that we're wanting to drill into the delta, we should train warning.
Mars Perseverance Sol 424 – Proper Mastcam-Z Digicam: Mastcam-Z picture of rocks at Enchanted Lake. Credit score: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
So, our first motion merchandise at Enchanted Lake was to look at the rocks there utilizing the rover’s distant science devices with a purpose to resolve whether or not they match the specified standards for sampling. The rocks at this website displayed many distinct—and fascinating!—traits in comparison with the others now we have studied up to now in Jezero. But after an intensive evaluation, the group determined to forego sampling at this location. It was a tricky resolution to make, however we really feel optimistic in regards to the alternatives that lie forward. The info collected at Enchanted Lake will probably be used as a substitute to construct context for future investigations of the delta.
The rover is now headed east towards a location referred to as Hawksbill Hole, one other promising location for sampling the delta. Whereas traversing alongside the delta entrance, Perseverance will proceed to gather information to assist characterize the contact between the crater flooring and deltaic rocks earlier than ascending onto the delta itself. However our long-awaited pattern of delta rocks? For that, we’ll have to attend just a bit bit longer.
Written by Mariah Baker, Planetary Scientist at Smithsonian Nationwide Air & Area Museum
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